SPORTS: Wetumpka, Stanhope open seasons with big wins, B1 Deputy recovering after being shot in Claud standoff, B8
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Student in jail after gun found on school grounds
Holtville High School basketball coach arrested
were notified of threats Franklin said. “They were over to law enforcement. his belongings. being made against the questioned by a school Franklin said the student “The student said he had school and notified the administrator.” admitted to school admina firearm in the vehicle,” By Williams Franklin said investigators Wilson wasofficer the head Wilson was released on a investigation and handed it off AnCliff Elmore County High school resource andbasket-Elmore County Schools istrators and the school Franklin said. Staff Writer with the Elmore County Sherball coach at Holtville High $6,000 bond 90 minutes afto the appropriate authorities. School student is in the the Elmore County Sheriff’s superintendent Richard resource to making the The student’s vehicle School and was He was also placed on adminis- iff’s Office have the alleged vic- ter turning himself in accordElmore County jail after Office. Dennis said the school statement, according to law was parked on the school A virtual teacher at Elmore placed on adtim’s phone. Authorities collect- ing to the Elmore County Jail trative leave at that time.” making threats on campus “A 19 year old student maintained a normal routine enforcement. The school grounds in Eclectic. County School’s Edge program ministrative website. Dennis said school officials ed Wilson’s phone as well. Monday morning. made a threatening stateafter the threat was defused resource then told the stuhas been arrested and charged leave Jan. 13 “You could see a conversaDennis said Wilson also follow the same procedure School administrators ment in class,” Sheriff Bill and handed the investigation dent he was going to search LYKES See JAIL, Page A8 at with school employee distrib- according to Elother sports Holtwhen administrators receive a tion between the two,” Frank- coached By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
uting obscene material to a student. Elmore County Sheriff Bill Franklin said Emmanuel Andre Wilson II, 32, of Montgomery turned himself into authorities Tuesday afternoon.
more County Schools superintendent Richard Dennis. WILSON “We had a report,” Dennis said. “We had a preliminary
report of allegations against school staff and employees. “Once we hand it over, we know very little about what is going on,” Dennis said. “We cooperate with authorities if necessary.”
lin said. “Mr. Wilson is going to contend someone had the security code to his phone and he was not responsible. There is other information we can’t disclose now but I don’t think it’s beneficial to Mr. Wilson.”
Chamber holds luncheon
ville schools including being the head track coach and assistant football coach. Dennis said other staff would fill in for the duties of Wilson at Holtville while he is on administrative leave.
Wetumpka man pleads guilty to killing black Policebear
continue investigation, man no longer Millbrook resident arrestedsuspected for child porn
33, of Wetumpka pleaded guilty to two of three charges against him stemA man who was arrested ming from the incident. in September for shooting According to court a black bear had his day in records, Watkins entered court. See GUILTY, Page A8 Michael Cole Watkins, By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
welcoming members By Cliff Williams Staff Writer The Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce held its annual luncheon to install new officers and board members for the first time in a while Thursday. The COVID-19 pandemic put a hamper on gatherings but the chamber celebrated the successes of business in Wetumpka. “We haven’t been able to do this for the last couple years,” chairperson Clay McConnell said. “Your attendance is an indication people want to get back together and have these opportunities to see each
COUNTY SCHOOLS’ MOST CHERISHED
EMPLOYEE RETIRES See CHAMBER, Page A3
vehicle at the humane shelter program director Ashley Taywith a puppy.” lor said. “They were already That event left Popcorn going into schools with those nyone who was anybody with scars on her head. For a students. What we were seeing was at Wetumpka Elemen- better life, staff at the Humane with those counselors and thertary School for a retireSociety of Elmore County apists, there was a remarkable ment party last week. convinced Service Dogs of difference.” Who wouldn’t be? The retir- Alabama Popcorn was special. School staff were seeing ing employee was a success She wasn’t the hyper springer improvements in test scores, story. She was thrown out of spaniel that typically kept the attendance and mental health her home as a single mother. breed from being a service of other students who came She went to prison. But soon animal. Popcorn then went to into contact with the animals. after, she started a career prison in Florida and studied The organization approached that spanned 63 dog years of with the female inmates before Elmore County Schools about service to students, staff and returning to Alabama and land- piloting a program for facility faculty. ing with Reiske. dogs. Popcorn was a facility dog “We rescue the dog, we res“It was such a novel conat the school helping with anx- cue the inmate, all to save the cept,” former Elmore County iety and mental health issues. kids,” Reiske said. Schools superintendent Dr. She was the first such dog in The idea of a facility serJeff Langum said. “Originally the State of Alabama, nine vice dog was a novel idea in I thought like an administrator, human years ago, when she Alabama a decade ago. It was ‘Oh no, dogs, that will never first started to walk the halls being done in other states. work.’” of Wetumpka Elementary with At the time, Service Dogs of There were issues with liaStaff Report at Holtville school culture fromallergies that of a handler and paraprofessional schoolwide Alabamaassembly was placing service the bilities with dog bites, High School. Elmore County Suschool struggling with low moBrandi Reiske. animals with just individuals and kids being scared. The Alabama Association of perintendent Richard Dennis was rale, achievement and attendance “Her life is a country music including students. “Quickly I was humbled by Secondary Schoolsaid. Principals for our the presentation. song,” Reiske “Somebodyin attendance “That was main focus,” to a school that strives for excel(AASSP) High “Kyle Futral exception- lence. By collaborating See RETIRES,with Pagestaff, A8 threwnamed her outHoltville of a moving Service DogsisofanAlabama School principal Kyle Futral the al principal and is very proac- many of the school’s issues were 2022 Alabama High School Prin- tive and innovative in his think- identified and addressed. Futral’s cipal of the Year. ing and approaches to managing leadership style of listening, enThe High School Principal of his school,” CLIFF Dennis said, couraging, supporting, organizing WILLIAMS | TPI the Year award was presented to As principal of Holtville High challengingceremony. the staff and stuBrandi Reiske tries to get a cupcake wrapper from Popcorn atand his retirement Futral on Friday, Jan.was 28 during School, Futral has transformed dents, caused the school culture to Popcorn on the ajob for nine years at Wetumpka Elementary School as a therapy dog. By CLIFF WILLIAMS News Editor
A
Members of the Wetumpka Chamber of Commerce attend the chamber’s “A Taste of Our By CLIFF WILLIAMS Home Town” luncheon.News Editor By Jake Arthur
police chief P.K. Johnson Chief Videographer said during CLIFF WILLIAMS/ Tips of child sex abuse questioning THE HERALD are still investigatingMengal the fatal material from anPolice internet shooting in the Wetumpka Walmart park-to service provider led to a admitted ing lot on Jan. 20. quick arrest in Millbrook investigators Police were dispatched to the parking lot this week. he downMENGAL around 10:45 p.m. for a “shots fired” call. Friday, the Millbrook loaded and Oncearrested there, they found Centellpossessed Winston, Police Department 42 of Tallassee, dead of a gunshot James C. Mengal, 55, of child porngraphy. wound in the driver seat ofMengal his vehicle. Millbrook, during a search is currently According to Wetumpka police chief of his property. Millbrook Page A8 Greg Benton, this wasSee notARRESTED, a random shooting. “This was not random, not a random act,” said Benton. “We believe the victim and the perpetrator knew each other.” This is the first homicide in Wetumpka in over three years. The last homicide in the city took place in 2018. “It’s not a good way to start out the new year,” By CLIFF WILLIAMSsaid Benton. recounted numerous times by want to speculate News Editor Benton didn’t the Bracy family —on thethe firebombing of the family home SHOOTING, Page A3 It’s a story some have inSee Wetumpka in early mornheard, but now it is preserved ing hours of Jan. 1, 1966. at the Elmore County Black History Museum. It’s a story See DISPLAY, Page A8
New display sheds light on firebombing
Holtville’s Futral Alabama principal of the year
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shift in a positive direction. The school experienced a 62 percent decrease in discipline referrals, 50 percent decrease in chronic absenteeism, 7 percent increase in the graduation rate, 33 percent increase in CCR rate and a 20 perCLIFF WILLIAMS | TPI cent increase in ACT proficiency in the last fiveMembers years. of the Elmore County Black History Museum board and the Bracy family pose for a photograph in front of display thePage family to the civil rights See honoring PRINCIPAL, A3 and its contributions FUTURAL movement.
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